#2: Guide: How NOT to Host a Space on X

Hosting a great space is totally possible, just don't do these things.

Author

Christel Guillen
January 09, 2024

Happy Tuesday EduCreators!

I am dedicated to your growth as a human and as an EduCreator. Spaces are great for personal development, building lifelong relationships, and building your micro-community of Ideal Members.

With the help of expert public speaker Jeff Olsen, we are starting a new series on how to be a great public speaker and, if you really want to go down the path of exponential growth, how to host/co-host great spaces. Click the button to set your reminder and add to your calendar.

Do you remember the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?” Sometimes, starting with what not to do is enough of a pattern interrupt to stick.

Here’s what NOT to do when Hosting a Space:

I learned these things the hard way and almost gave up on hosting Spaces on X. In 30 days, I now have on average more attendees than I ever did on Clubhouse in 2 years and I’m building the best collaborative relationships! You never know what kind of opportunities hosting a great Space will present to you.

Here’s what I stopped doing:

  1. Pop up Spaces

Ideally schedule your Space a week in advance. Worry about the perfect title later. Get it on the schedule so you can properly prepare for the Space. This will also give you plenty of time to find a great co-host and speaker panel.

  1. Spaces without a co-host

Find great co-hosts by supporting other Spaces. I created a list of speakers, hosts, and co-hosts I met in great Spaces so I could intentionally engage with them more. Support their posts by liking, commenting, and reposting.

When the time is right, slide into those DMs and kindly ask them if they’d be willing to co-host. Secure 2 co-hosts in advance if possible and have a couple back ups in mind. If you get a no, ask if they have any suggestions of great co-hosts.

Check out this post where I share my DM strategy.

  1. No speaker panel

This is a real space killer. Leaving your speakers up to chance can really derail a space. Instead, spend your time really connecting with great speakers and curating an expert panel.

Why is this important?

Not only does it help you build a collaborative relationship with great creators, it establishes you as someone with credibility. This also ensures you have a high quality space where people can really gain value.

  1. Boring, Unclear Title

Titles are very important in the world of live audio! Test out different titles to see what resonates with your audience most. The title should guide the convo and be compelling. It should attract people into the space.

Here’s what ChatGPT suggests:

Creating a compelling title for a live audio space on Twitter is crucial to attract and engage your audience effectively. Here are five top tips:

1. Keep it Concise and Catchy: Titles should be short enough to grasp at a glance yet catchy enough to pique interest. Aim for brevity while using dynamic and action-oriented words. A title like "TechTalks: Future of AI in Marketing" is concise, informative, and engaging.

2. Use Relevant Keywords: Incorporate keywords that your target audience is likely to use when searching for topics of interest. This enhances visibility and SEO for your live audio space. For example, "SEO Secrets: Boosting Your Website’s Traffic" directly addresses a key topic in digital marketing.

3. Highlight the Unique Value Proposition: Clearly state what makes your audio space special. Is it an exclusive interview, a panel of experts, or a deep dive into a trending topic? For instance, "Insider Insights: Navigating the 2024 Tech Landscape" suggests unique, expert perspectives.

4. Create a Sense of Urgency: Use language that encourages immediate action or suggests a can’t-miss opportunity. Words like "exclusive", "limited", or "today only" can be effective. A title like "Live Today: Digital Marketing Trends You Can't Ignore in 2024" suggests immediate relevance.

5. Personalize for Your Audience: Tailor the title to resonate with your specific audience. Use language and topics that reflect their interests and challenges. For instance, if your audience is primarily digital marketers, a title like "Conversion Mastery: Techniques for Digital Marketers" would be more appealing.

Remember, the title is often the first point of contact with your audience, so it should reflect the essence of the discussion while also being engaging and relevant to your audience's interests.

  1. Not regularly resetting the Space

As the host of the space, your #1 priority should be keeping the space engaging and on topic. Your audience is looking for direction from you. Do your best to reset the space every 20-30 minutes. This is a great way to get back on track and set expectations for the space.

Reset reminders:

  • Welcome new people to the space and thank new speakers for joining the stage

  • Share the “space norms” for what to do when it’s someone’s turn to speak and how the space will be run.

  • Ask the audience to share, like, and comment if they are enjoying the space and have any questions

  • CTA (call to action): this is the most important! Be sure you are sharing a call to action. ie. Join your email list or join your community.

  1. Not making your speakers feel appreciated and listened to

Always thank your speakers for joining the stage. If there are speakers waiting, let them know when/if they will get a turn. It’s pretty obvious when a host or co-host is not listening to the speakers. Each time someone speaks, you will want to listen intently for three main reasons:

  1. Be sure the speaker is staying on topic and keeping the flow positive and productive in the space.

  2. If the speaker is talking for too long, it’s very important to know when to politely interrupt and ask them to wrap up their thought. You will lose audience if you don’t do this.

  3. You will only be able to give a thoughtful response if you are truly listening. After the speaker finishes, personalize the response and thank them for their contribution.

  1. PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE

    I’m framing this one in the positive because it simply doesn’t get done enough. Be sure you are sharing the link to your space every chance you get. Send it to new followers in the DM and invite them to join. Create content related to the space and include the link at the end. Share the space link in the comments of other posts.

     

  2. NOT COLLECTING EMAILS

I’m saving the best for last. Please DO NOT host one more space where you do not have a way of collecting emails. Remember: spaces are for building relationships and community. If you don’t have a way to connect outside of X, you are missing a huge opportunity.

That’s all for now… much more coming down the pipeline.

Have a great day!

Christel, Founding Principal OCC Metaversity

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